Tropic Air celebrates its 25 years of airline service in Belize. A special event takes place tomorrow morning in San Pedro Town, during which Tropic will being into service a new Cessna Caravan. This new caravan has state of the art radio and navigation equipment and a dual global positioning system GPS, as well as a special silver painted tail with its logo, in recognition of company’s 25 Anniversary. Tropic air began its operations in November of 1978 by John Greif the third. Over the years Tropic has grown into a major regional company serving 9 destinations throughout Belize and Guatemala. At 9 o’clock Wednesday morning, the media will be flown to San Pedro for a ceremony.

Institutions are in short supply in Belize, particularly those that grow up in highly competitive, capital intensive businesses like the airline industry. Today, after twenty-five years of steady growth and solid service, San Pedro based Tropic Air can certainly lay claim to institutional status. News 5's Jacqueline Woods was on hand this morning as the airline showed off its newest acquisition.

Jacqueline Woods, ReportingIn the quarter century since its founding Tropic Air has grown tremendously. Today, the company serves nine destinations throughout Belize and Guatemala and conducts over a hundred flights a day. According to the company’s founder and president, John Grief the Third he is happy to see that what started out for him as a hobby has grown into a major business.

John Grief, III, Founder/President, Tropic Air“I had absolutely no commercial interest in aviation and then when I got out of university and came home to live, it just kind of seem like the right thing to do at the right time. But even then, even envisioning it commercially, we had no idea it would last this long and go this far.”

To commemorate its silver anniversary, Tropic Air added another Cessna Caravan to its fleet, which now numbers seven. The company, which shares the skies with another local airline, says it welcomes the competition.

Johnny Grief III“At the end of the day competition is good for everybody. Sometimes it’s a little hard to keep reminding myself of that because we do have a good strong competitor now. But like Isaid I think it is good for the industry, it is good for the flying public and you know things have a way of seeking its own level and working out.”

But as Tropic Air continues to modernize its service it believes that more can be done to improve the industry in Belize.

Johnny Grief III“Not to be too critical with government because they have been a big help to us but all the airlines in Belize are forced to adhere to first world standards and yet we land in a lot of cases, on third world airstrips. The government is doing what it can but it certainly, somebody needs to re evaluate maybe just how fast we can move and upgrade the airstrips countrywide.”

Tropic Air credits its success not only to public support, but good management and a dedicated staff of one hundred and eighty people. Employees like Michael Estell, who has been flying with the company for the past eighteen years and Aida Lucila Marin, who has been working with the company for two decades.

Aida Lucila Marin, Accounting Clerk, Tropic Air“All these years working this company have been really enjoyable for me because everybody is together. We do everything together and everybody understands each other.”

Michael Estell, Pilot, Tropic Air“I believe because we focus on the customers-- he passengers. You know, we try to get them where they want to go and when they want to go.”

So what is next for Tropic Air?

Johnny Grief III“Private funds just put a man into space so in twenty-five years from now, this just might be the Tropic Air space terminal.”